According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Vein Clinics of America, Inc. did not explain the exact risks, recurrence rates, or the uniqueness of its vein treatment properly. However, they have agreed to stop all misrepresentations.
Vein Clinics of America, Inc, claimed that the MicroCure process was brand new and only available at its varicose vein clinics. However, according to the FTC, this process consists of injecting a solution into a spider vein, wrapping the general area of the injection with bandages, and participating in a rigorous walking routine, and is available through various varicose vein clinics and doctor offices throughout the country. It is commonly called sclerotherapy, which is a treatment for varicose veins and spider vein treatment.
Sclerotherapy is a scientific advancement that was discovered when looking for an alternative to having spider veins surgically removed. This vein treatment is especially effective as vein treatment for veins that are overly dilated as a result of heredity, a sedentary lifestyle, a diet low in fiber, and/or pregnancy. Varicose veins are most likely to appear in the legs. Varicose veins and spider veins are known to cause pain in the form of aching and heaviness, and can sometimes be considered a health risk.
Another claim Vein Clinics of America made was that laser vein treatment had a recurrence rate of 65-85%, and that their vein treatment process, when preformed at one of their varicose vein clinics, only had a recurrence rate of 3%. However, according to the FTC the recurrence rate of laser vein treatment is much lower than this claim. As a result the Vein Clinics of America had to stop exaggerating the low recurrence rate of their vein treatment. The Vein Clinics of America also had to include all the risks of their treatment process, including mild allergic reactions, and burning, marking, or scarring of the skin.
Many times, sclerotherapy is very painful, because it typically relies on a hypertonic saline (salt water) solution that burns and cramps for several minutes. This type of solution is used to irritate the varicose vain lining and cause scar tissue to form. There are some cases in which a brownish color will appear, but this will leave after some time. For sclerotherapy to be effective, several treatments at a varicose vein clinic are required.
The symptom relief provided by both laser surgery and sclerotherapy are about the same. They are both 85% effective for varicose veins and spider veins. Contrary to what the vein clinics want people to believe, there is a higher recurrence rate for sclerotherapy. According to one study, only 50% of those who received laser surgery had a reappearance of varicose veins after five years, while 90% of those who underwent sclerotherapy had the reappearance of veins after the same lenth of time (Journal of Dermatologic Surgery and Oncology 1992; 18: 618-624).
Vein Clinics of America can only publish success rates, disease-recurrence rates, and health risks when scientific proof is shown to the FTC.